Anyone with a theatre degree?

[descovy]

So my dd14, is a big theatre nut... tech. This being freshman year, I was shocked by the level of commitment required for High School Theatre vs Jr High. It is 6 days a week, and you pretty much have to give up everything else.

She is passionate about it. And how can I discourage her passion? All the talk last night at Theatre open house about being a Thespian, and getting a degree in theatre... and well, I have some questions.

My daughter wants to get a college degree in theatre. Not in teaching to maybe teach theatre, but an actual Bachelor/Master Degree in Theatre.

I have to ask, is there anyone here who has a degree in theatre? How did it turn out?

Frankly I am nervous. I myself do not have a degree. I started college but did not finish. No one in my family ever did college. And met my husband at college, trying to pay my own way, and well, got married & made babies instead.

But I do work at Target. With lots of young adults who have liberal arts degrees. So I'm nervous.

We have 3 kids and have been saving in 529s for each of them. It looks like $20k/child. Enough for a good start, but we can't pay for an entire 4 yr degree without help. So I worry about her taking on tons of debt to end up working at Target for $8/hr. I don't expect my child to be rich, but I want her to be able to support herself. It takes a lot of sacrifice to save up $60k total for kids to go to college, save for retirement, and still be able to afford a family vacation or two during their childhood!

She has dreams of working in theatre as a career. She has the passion, and the skill. What are her odds?

If you (or someone you know) got a degree in theatre how did it work out for you?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

My coworker has one. She's in hospital administration now.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

A neighbor kid I grew up with got a theater degree. He is now a teacher.

My cousin dual majored in theater and pre-k education. Went to school for an extra 2 years so she could do both. She had to go back later to actually get a full teaching degree to get a job that could support her.

 

[laurafergie]

My cousin has a bachelors, but works as a web designer. She is heavily into local theater, always in/or directing a play. But to be fair, she never really tried to "work" in theater. She got married, and had a kid, etc....

 

[Simba's Mom]

So my dd14, is a big theatre nut... tech. This being freshman year, I was shocked by the level of commitment required for High School Theatre vs Jr High. It is 6 days a week, and you pretty much have to give up everything else.

She is passionate about it. And how can I discourage her passion? All the talk last night at Theatre open house about being a Thespian, and getting a degree in theatre... and well, I have some questions.

My daughter wants to get a college degree in theatre. Not in teaching to maybe teach theatre, but an actual Bachelor/Master Degree in Theatre.

I have to ask, is there anyone here who has a degree in theatre? How did it turn out?

Frankly I am nervous. I myself do not have a degree. I started college but did not finish. No one in my family ever did college. And met my husband at college, trying to pay my own way, and well, got married & made babies instead.

But I do work at Target. With lots of young adults who have liberal arts degrees. So I'm nervous.

We have 3 kids and have been saving in 529s for each of them. It looks like $20k/child. Enough for a good start, but we can't pay for an entire 4 yr degree without help. So I worry about her taking on tons of debt to end up working at Target for $8/hr. I don't expect my child to be rich, but I want her to be able to support herself. It takes a lot of sacrifice to save up $60k total for kids to go to college, save for retirement, and still be able to afford a family vacation or two during their childhood!

She has dreams of working in theatre as a career. She has the passion, and the skill. What are her odds?

If you (or someone you know) got a degree in theatre how did it work out for you?

Boy, do I feel your pain! Although DS isn't a theater major, he knows a lot because he's a musical performance major and now waiting tables in New York City working towards his "big break". His dream would be to get a "gig" in a Broadway Musical ("Aladdin" would be the ultimate-he's got a friend there). When he was in high school and in love with music, it was so hard-both DH and I were engineers, then I taught engineering and math. DS's major was a struggle for us to accept (what's this "was"? We still struggle!) However, I keep trying to tell myself-DS has always been very happy with his choice-for a few years he worked as a cruise ship musician (as did many other theater majors). He's happy, and isn't that ultimately what we want for our children-happiness (And I admit-a small part of me is saying "Maybe if I keep repeating this, I'll believe it")

 

[disney4us2002]

My ds got his Bachelor's degree in technical theatre. He is 25 now and has worked steadily since graduating in 2011 but not always in very lucrative positions. He is currently an audio technician for Norwegian Cruise lines and is onboard a ship for 6 month contracts. He does like it but he won't do this forever. It fits for him now because he doesn't have a girlfriend and enjoys traveling and is just putting nearly all of his salary in savings because he's thinking about grad school down the road. We didn't try to talk him out of theatre because he is good at it and realllllly loved it. I hate that he will most likely work nights, weekends, and holidays as long as he is in the entertainment field but it isn't my choice.

 

[sonnyjane]

I hate to discourage passion, but do want to be realistic! My friend in college graduated with one. She is currently a character at WDW and has been doing that for 7 years now. That said, she is in her 30's and still needs the help of roommates to pay rent.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The only person who I know that is on Broadway, to my knowledge, and no theater degree. What she does have is a SOLID dance background--and I presume a voice since she appears in musicals (3 original casts). Her mom is my daughter's dance teacher and the hall of the studio has all her daughter's show posters with cast autographs.

The one person I knew with a theater degree worked with her husband for her in-laws business that had absolutely nothing to do with theater. But her parents were of the belief that you could get a job with any degree, so you might as well enjoy the degree you love. So she pursued her degree not for a theater career, but simply for the bachelor's degree and thus enjoyed her college career.

There are many things she can do to translate her love of theater into a career involving theater: become a drama teacher, acting coach, teach acting lessons, work crews, etc. The heading to broadway thing (as an example) is a dream for many but reality for few.

I have a friend who majored in music. She does well now, but she has spent several years building up her resume.

What can be accomplished depends on abilities and how you market yourself and sometimes just pure luck.

I would have her do some realistic research on careers in theater.

 

[Art 1]

So my dd14, is a big theatre nut... tech. This being freshman year, I was shocked by the level of commitment required for High School Theatre vs Jr High. It is 6 days a week, and you pretty much have to give up everything else.

She is passionate about it. And how can I discourage her passion? All the talk last night at Theatre open house about being a Thespian, and getting a degree in theatre... and well, I have some questions.

My daughter wants to get a college degree in theatre. Not in teaching to maybe teach theatre, but an actual Bachelor/Master Degree in Theatre.

I have to ask, is there anyone here who has a degree in theatre? How did it turn out?

Frankly I am nervous. I myself do not have a degree. I started college but did not finish. No one in my family ever did college. And met my husband at college, trying to pay my own way, and well, got married & made babies instead.

But I do work at Target. With lots of young adults who have liberal arts degrees. So I'm nervous.

We have 3 kids and have been saving in 529s for each of them. It looks like $20k/child. Enough for a good start, but we can't pay for an entire 4 yr degree without help. So I worry about her taking on tons of debt to end up working at Target for $8/hr. I don't expect my child to be rich, but I want her to be able to support herself. It takes a lot of sacrifice to save up $60k total for kids to go to college, save for retirement, and still be able to afford a family vacation or two during their childhood!

She has dreams of working in theatre as a career. She has the passion, and the skill. What are her odds?

If you (or someone you know) got a degree in theatre how did it work out for you?

I would tell her that you will not finance a degree in theater. That might help change her mind a bit. If not then it's her money she will waste.

 

[SamRoc]

DD has her major in musical theatre and her minor in theatre arts. She has done one Broadway show and 5 off Broadway shows. So it can work!

 

[descovy]

I would tell her that you will not finance a degree in theater. That might help change her mind a bit. If not then it's her money she will waste.

mmm kay... for that to work, I'd have to have enough$$$ to finance an entire degree in something. No matter what she chooses she will have to have some/a lot of skin in the game.

And I'd have to have a kid unaware that 18 makes one an adult... and can make her own decisions. I think she's too smart for me to get away with telling her what to do after 18. (Advice yes... demands no)

 

[NewRVLady]

I know a young lady with an Opera degree- performance Master 's

She sings at weddings, and gives private lessons. Because she took no Education classes, she can't teach in a school.
her dream was to sing Opera professionally- it is the hardest thing to break into


I think the odds in this whole music, dance Theater stuff is very high that you won't make it

 

[WorldWacky]

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. I did tour professionally for a few years after graduation with a children's theatre company and loved every minute of it. I wasn't making millions, but I was able to pay my bills with my salary. That said, I also knew that I did want to get married and have children one day and for me, I couldn't tour the country and have the type of family that I wanted. I chose to go down a different path. I briefly taught high school drama in VA and I now stay involved with the theatre by directing for my school district.
Quite a few of my classmates are very successful actors, performers and technicians. It's not an easy life. The jobs are here today, gone in two months. One was Glinda in Wicked on Broadway. She's able to tour whenever, wherever because she is on her own and she was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen. Her Facebook pages look a lot different from mine! No husband, no complaining about the three crazy kids and their over scheduled activities. Lots of backstage pictures of her with a bottle of wine or the mention of yet ANOTHER hotel room. An exciting life for sure. Now don't get me wrong, certainly, people with spouses and children are able to be successful actors too, but it does complicate things a bit. It does take A LOT of dedication and a thick skin. You hear "no" more than "yes".

 

[LBIJim]

DD has her major in musical theatre and her minor in theatre arts. She has done one Broadway show and 5 off Broadway shows. So it can work!

Yes, it CAN work. Many Broadway performers have a degree in some fine or performing arts discipline. But realistically, there's one open job for every 100 graduates. And even then, a job could disappear in a flash if a show isn't successful.

OP, I wouldn't try to discourage her right now. Let her experience some HS theatre. Maybe in a few years she learn on her own the realities and long odds of theatre life.

 

[Handbag Lady]

So my dd14, is a big theatre nut... tech. This being freshman year, I was shocked by the level of commitment required for High School Theatre vs Jr High. It is 6 days a week, and you pretty much have to give up everything else.

She is passionate about it. And how can I discourage her passion? All the talk last night at Theatre open house about being a Thespian, and getting a degree in theatre... and well, I have some questions.

My daughter wants to get a college degree in theatre. Not in teaching to maybe teach theatre, but an actual Bachelor/Master Degree in Theatre.

I have to ask, is there anyone here who has a degree in theatre? How did it turn out?

Frankly I am nervous. I myself do not have a degree. I started college but did not finish. No one in my family ever did college. And met my husband at college, trying to pay my own way, and well, got married & made babies instead.

But I do work at Target. With lots of young adults who have liberal arts degrees. So I'm nervous.

We have 3 kids and have been saving in 529s for each of them. It looks like $20k/child. Enough for a good start, but we can't pay for an entire 4 yr degree without help. So I worry about her taking on tons of debt to end up working at Target for $8/hr. I don't expect my child to be rich, but I want her to be able to support herself. It takes a lot of sacrifice to save up $60k total for kids to go to college, save for retirement, and still be able to afford a family vacation or two during their childhood!

She has dreams of working in theatre as a career. She has the passion, and the skill. What are her odds?

If you (or someone you know) got a degree in theatre how did it work out for you?

Why would you want to discourage her passion? I can't understand that for the life of me.

Mostly everyone I work with has a theatre or entertainment degree or film degree or audio degree or took at least classes for it. I have the degree in English and they all make more than I do, go figure. But, I do work in the entertainment industry and I live in Los Angeles. MUCH more jobs here for that type of degree than say the middle of America. I do have one friend with a true performing degree in theatre who is having a bit of a rough time, but he's in Florida.

 

[wilkeliza]

I have a B.A. in Theater with a concentration in Lighting Design and Tech. I went to Marymount in NYC and loved my time in school. I actually had some stuff lined up and all the rest of my graduating class is working gainfully in the field. I had some private issues that I decided to deal with and well 2 years not working in theater is 2 years not making connections are moving up the later. Now I work as in a finace department for a tech firm and am saving up for Auto Cad so I can become a freelance drafter and possible go back to school to translate theater into an interior design and architecture so I can use my artsy side to do lighting for resteraunts and amusement parks.

I make more than enough to get by and my only roomie is my boy friend and our dog. We both have art degrees (he has a masters in T.V. management) and I seriously believe we would have no problems if we got married tomorrow and had a kid a year from now because we are both financially savey.

As a child who was told by one parent their dreams were stupid and to chase something better since this was below me all it did was make me hate that parent even more. I'm so glad my grandparents supported my decision and my mom always told me to do what makes me happy. At the end of the day money isn't everything. You can't buy passion. Also your child is a freshman in high school. I changed my career path 3 times by midsemester my freshman year of college! I was originally a pre-med major and was top of my class but realized that wasn't mey dream. Let your kid dream and if you feel like they need a backup make her get a minor in education.

 

[ashley0139]

I have a degree in theatre management - emphasis in stage management. I worked as a stage manager in NYC steadily for 3 years after college. I am currently doing something in a related field with more long term work. I know many people who are supporting themselves working in theatre in NYC. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Theatre tech is awesome. Good for your daughter!

 

[shortbun]

I was a performing arts major with emphasis in music but it was mostly musical theater for me and operatic performance. I had a minor in piano. I got a great liberal arts education, became a travel agent after training with Trans World Airlines school and I would do it all over again. Why discourage her? It's a passionate, fullfilling path. Just tell her that she has to work while she pursues her career. My nephew and his girlfriend both graduated from film school. She is working as an actress and he is filming and doing some directing in Los Angeles. They are doing well, supporting themselves and having a ball. She's from Michigan, he's from Ohio. My neice(on the other side of the family) is also in L.A. waiting tables and taking photographs. She's doing head shots and some other specialty stuff. Her degree was in photography(art department). People thought they were all crazy but they had supportive families and they are going for it.

 

[Art 1]

mmm kay... for that to work, I'd have to have enough$$$ to finance an entire degree in something. No matter what she chooses she will have to have some/a lot of skin in the game.

And I'd have to have a kid unaware that 18 makes one an adult... and can make her own decisions. I think she's too smart for me to get away with telling her what to do after 18. (Advice yes... demands no)

I never said anything about age 18 or demands. Only that I would not have paid for my children to major in theatre. Despite all the Dis success stories. It's a waist of good money to major in theatre.

 

[scrapquitler]

So my dd14, is a big theatre nut... tech. This being freshman year, I was shocked by the level of commitment required for High School Theatre vs Jr High. It is 6 days a week, and you pretty much have to give up everything else.

She is passionate about it. And how can I discourage her passion? All the talk last night at Theatre open house about being a Thespian, and getting a degree in theatre... and well, I have some questions.

My daughter wants to get a college degree in theatre. Not in teaching to maybe teach theatre, but an actual Bachelor/Master Degree in Theatre.

I have to ask, is there anyone here who has a degree in theatre? How did it turn out?

Frankly I am nervous. I myself do not have a degree. I started college but did not finish. No one in my family ever did college. And met my husband at college, trying to pay my own way, and well, got married & made babies instead.

But I do work at Target. With lots of young adults who have liberal arts degrees. So I'm nervous.

We have 3 kids and have been saving in 529s for each of them. It looks like $20k/child. Enough for a good start, but we can't pay for an entire 4 yr degree without help. So I worry about her taking on tons of debt to end up working at Target for $8/hr. I don't expect my child to be rich, but I want her to be able to support herself. It takes a lot of sacrifice to save up $60k total for kids to go to college, save for retirement, and still be able to afford a family vacation or two during their childhood!

She has dreams of working in theatre as a career. She has the passion, and the skill. What are her odds?

If you (or someone you know) got a degree in theatre how did it work out for you?

My daughter is a freshman Theater major. She has a passion for the technical/backstage side of the whole thing. She wanted to major in Theater, and we tried to explain to her that she needs to be able to support herself after college, because we do not want her living in our basement into her 40s.

On the other hand, as parents, we want her to do what she loves. After much discussion, we came up with a strategy that makes everyone happy...she is double majoring. She will be getting both a theater degree AND a chemistry degree. If she can't find a good enough job to pay the bills in theater after graduation, she will have a fallback, and she will always always have the option of continuing to pursue her love of theater in our local community theaters.